Took the car for tires. While there, service manager Ben changed fuel filter as well. Afterward, car would not run. The brilliant mechanics determined it must be the fuel pump and changed it (one day wait). Car only ran 1/2 mile. Had it towed back. Service rep 'Ben' informs me they "don't work on cars like mine" and take it away. I just asked them to look at the work they had already done. It was dripping gas and needed attention. They refused. Said it was running fine when it was checked earlier and that's where their responsibility ended. Ben said it had been a long day. I said "thanks for nothing!" and Ben replied " EFF YOU, A*hole".
I tried to leave to tell the tow driver to load it back on, but the door was locked. I asked to be let out, Ben says "I won't do anything for you, now LEAVE"... How, I was not sure.
Tired of being polite, I demanded to be let out once more and when he refused I returned the 'EFF you" he had given me earlier. Fortunately another employee from the store ran over and took me to another door to exit.
My son was along and witnessed the whole ugly thing. The tow driver offered to call the police. His opinion was that maybe Ben's behavior was caused by drugs. I just wanted OUT and away from the crazy kid.
I complained to service dept manager the next Monday morning. He told me he had no previous trouble with Ben and it must be my fault for talking to him in a way he didn't like. He offered to take the fuel pump off the car and hand me back my old one. I asked what that would prove, and he agreed 'nothing'... But that's all he would do.
So I am supposed to go back to a place where I was verbally assaulted, hassled, delayed and overcharged so they can take off the fuel pump I had to find at another store because their parts dept could not come up with it, and let them mangle my car some more and wind up with a non-running car that has to be towed away again? That's really a dumb solution!
And after getting home and examining the bill for the tires, it was discovered that they had not given the discount they promised either. And they were supposed to align the car for a small discount along with the tires, but no discount and the car pulls. I had it re-aligned and the set was 2 degrees off on one side and 1 degree off (the exact opposite direction) the other.
I had the car fuel problem repaired by a reputable mechanic. The problem was with a rubber gas line that was torn when the filter was replaced. I have no receipt for the Pep Boys repair because 'Ben' offered to put it on for "free" if I would buy it in the store and bring it out to him (a couple greenbacks for lunch would be fine)... I suppose that one fact might be as much a part of this service disaster as anything else. He didn't want to be found out.
I tried complaining to the regional manager. I was advised that the "big" manager would call me back. He never did.
Everything I encountered at this store was incompetent, hostile and self serving. And the upper mannagement was eithr just as bad or just absent. I was told repeatedly that if there was a problem with the car, it was MY problem. Apparently, they feel they never make mistakes, and if they do, it can be righted by pushy, hostile behavior and denial by the offending party and his managers right up the line.
It's a shame this kind of management is tolerated by corporate. Pep Boys was once a good resource. It isn't anymore.
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